Arts & Culture

Best Specialty Bookstores In South Florida

Miami is an eclectic city and its people are known for their varied interests. In an age where bookstores are closing everywhere, booklovers in the Miami area are lucky to have so many specialty bookstores offering something for everyone. Whether you’re an intellectual antiquarian or a comic geek, there is a bookstore in South Florida that is perfect for you.

Downtown Book Center, Inc.

In business since 1965, the Downtown Book Center is the perfect place to find a large variety of books in Spanish and English. It carries best sellers, technical books, fiction, medical manuals and just about any kind of book you’d want. Founded by Cuban bookseller Jose Rabaden, the shop is currently run by his daughter. The space is small, but the staff is very knowledgeable and will help you find the book/books you seek. Staff members will even order books if they don’t have them in stock. Join the book club and receive 20 percent off your purchase.

A&M Comics

A&M Comics is the oldest comic store in Florida and the second oldest in the U.S. Widely known and revered by collectors, A&M has over 80,000 comics and 2,000 toys. Though the store looks cluttered and a bit unorganized, it is one of the best comic stores in Florida. Owner Jorge Perez is always happy to help find the perfect starter items for newbies or to help collectors add valuable merchandise to their stash.

Murder on the Beach

Murder on the Beach specializes in all kinds of mystery books and thrillers. It carries new, used, collectibles and audio books. Mystery lovers can also find puzzles, mystery games and terrific gifts. Murder on the Beach is also the leader in autographed books by Florida authors. Its calendar is filled with author readings and signings, book club meetings and community book events.

Libreri Mapou Creole & French Bookstore

This unique bookstore is located in Miami’s Little Haiti. Dedicated to the Haitian culture, it is a bookstore and culture center combined in one location. Owner Jan Mapou offers books in Kreole, French and English. There is also an area in the back of the store where Mapou offers dance performances, poetry readings and a variety of interesting gatherings. This gem of a store is one not to miss. Enjoy the Haitian drink Kremas Mapou while browsing books, arts and crafts on the Haitian culture or participating in classes on music, dance and theater.

Dunbar Old Books

If you’re looking for old, out-of-stock, antiquarian books, this is the place to go. Specializing in science and history, Dunbar Old Books also has a large selection of books on religion, Florida and books on local history of Florida cities. Getting there is a quest worth the challenge as proprietor Mary Ann likes out-of-the-way places. But it’s worth the trip to check out the offerings of this unique store filled wall to wall with shelves of rare, out-of-print books.

(Source: CBSMiami)

Revistas y Periódicos

Most Spanish bookstores in Miami concentrate mainly on Cuban books, but Revistas y Periodicos specializes in Columbian literature. It started out as a magazine and newsstand (thus the name), but Revistas y Periodicos now offers more than 20,000 books that also include Spanish literature and books by Cuban authors. Along with its large selection of books, it still sells magazines and newspapers from just about every Spanish-speaking country in the world.

Transplanted from Denver, Colorado to Orlando, Florida, Larraine Stacey spends much of her time traveling all over Florida and cruising the East Coast. A certified International tour guide and former travel agent, Larraine loves researching travel destinations and sharing travel tips with others. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.